Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue says cattle producers are going to have to learn to compete against the cell-cultured, or lab-grown, meat products that are being developed. Perdue is slated to speak today in New Orleans at the annual Cattle Industry Convention, and he previewed his message in an interview Thursday at USDA with Agri-Pulse's Ben Nuelle and Hannah Pagel.

Perdue said he'll tell the cattle producers, "You can't stop technology. The fact is that they (cattle producers) need to produce a very good product, (which) they have for many years, and the customers will make the choice."

Perdue went on, "Some people are already leaning toward other areas. You have people talking about plant-based foods rather than meat-based foods."